Train US workers, go home: Trump's new H-1B visa plan
What's the story
United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said that President Donald Trump's new H-1B visa policy is not aimed at replacing American workers but rather at temporarily bringing in skilled foreign experts to train them. Speaking on Fox News, Bessent described the policy as a "knowledge transfer" strategy to revive US industries such as manufacturing, shipbuilding, and semiconductor production after years of outsourcing.
Policy details
'Train the US workers, then go home'
Bessent summarized the administration's vision for the new visa system by saying, "Train the US workers. Then go home. Then the US workers fully take over." He firmly dismissed concerns about foreign workers displacing Americans, saying, "An American can't have that job, not yet." He added that overseas partners coming in to teach American workers is a "home run." "We haven't built ships or semiconductors here for years. Overseas partners coming in, teaching American workers, that's a home run."
Economic strategy
Trump's vision to reshore industries
The plan, he said, is in line with Trump's broader effort to bring critical industries back to the US and reduce reliance on imports. The comments come after Trump, in another Fox interview, defended the H-1B visa program, saying the US "doesn't have certain talents" and that foreign experts are needed to train Americans in technical fields. "You can't take people off the unemployment line and say, 'We're going to make missiles,'" Trump said.
Economic plans
Bessent discusses potential $2,000 tariff rebate for Americans
Bessent also spoke about the administration's economic agenda, confirming talks of a possible $2,000 tariff rebate for families earning under $100,000. "The president's talking about a $2,000 rebate," he said. "It's part of ensuring families feel the benefits of strong trade policy." He called 2026 a potential blockbuster year for the US economy and emphasized the importance of keeping the Treasury market deep, liquid, and stable to achieve this vision.